I was intrigued by an article I read about the Miracle of the Holy Fire that appeared in a newspaper at Easter time. Orthodox tradition holds that the Holy Fire happens annually on the day preceding Orthodox Easter. During this time, blue light is said to emit within Jesus’ tomb. The light is believed to form a column of fire, from which candles are lit. This fire is then used to light the candles of the clergy and pilgrims in attendance. Pilgrims and clergy say that the Holy Fire does not burn them.
Before the fire is lit, the Patriarch kneels inside the chapel with crowds gathered outside. When the fire is lit, the Patriarch comes out of the church with two lit candles. Thousands witness the annual event. The Holy Fire is taken to Greece by special flight and similarly to other Orthodox countries. The Holy Fire, the Light of Christ who came into our world shines brightly in every corner of our world even as darkness seeks to extinguish it.
In the gospel of John proclaimed today, we heard him say that people preferred darkness to light because their works were evil. I thought back to the reading from the Acts of the Apostles and I was reminded of a specific instance when darkness sought to overcome the light.
The location was not a public jail like the jail where the Apostles were imprisoned rather it was a Japanese Concentration camp where several Holy Cross priests and nuns were imprisoned. They were sailing to Bangladesh to join our mission in that country, and they were taken prisoners. Their Japanese jailor was particularly cruel, so much so that one of our priests would never speak of his ordeal.
Set free by American military, the priest eventually found his way to Bangladesh and brought the light of God to the people of Bangladesh. Another of the priests who was also imprisoned joined Father Peyton’s ministry, helping families pray, and oversaw the film production of the fifteen mysteries of the rosary that were used to evangelize millions in South America.
The origin of the Holy Fire and its miraculous and spontaneous flame remains a mystery as to its origin, but the Light of Christ that we see evidenced in the lives of people is no mystery because He is risen as He said He would.
